Tag Archives: genre

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We’ve all felt misunderstood at times. What a struggle it was to try to make others see us, see who we are, and understand how we think. The same goes for our characters. Not everyone will get along, not everyone … Continue reading →

An unexpected event can throw our character for a loop. Sometimes it can even trigger a subplot in a story. Given the time of year, there’s a lot of emotion that can come out of the unexpected. Here’s an unexpected … Continue reading →

Sometimes the seemingly innocuous can spark our imagination. What kind of spark does the following prompt create for you? You have only 15 minutes to capture it all… start now! Oh, that’s right, you haven’t met me yet.

I’m always amazed at what different writers do with the same opening line. Here’s an opening to a flash-fiction piece I wrote in one of my classes. My story has an eerie quality about it. What will you do with … Continue reading →

We’ve all had this happen to us… or seem to happen. In the dead of night, when the shadows hover close, when we don’t know who is there, or what will happen… set your timer for 15 minutes and begin … Continue reading →

Humor can help ease things when tension mounts too high. It also gives readers a place to breathe, before the tensions ramps up again. And the lighter side of characters helps bond them to readers. So, here’s a prompt to help … Continue reading →

The completely strange and foreign can serve as a spark for story ideas. Even if you never want to write science fiction or fantasy, venturing out into the genre can help your imagination soar when you return to what you … Continue reading →

I thought of my son (whose birthday is tomorrow) and his little BMW when I wrote this. It set my mind spinning. Does it do the same for you? What was it about the car? Whose car was it? And … Continue reading →